Thai trade unions have joined forces to embed workers' voices into workplace safety and health standards. The first workshop, held on 22 August 2025 in Bangkok, marks the beginning of a series of capacity-building programmes led by the International Labour Organization (ILO) and supported by the governments of Japan and Canada.
The workshop brought together representatives from various trade unions under the International Trade Union Confederation - Thailand Chapter (ITUC-TC).
In his opening remarks, Tavee Deeying, Secretariat of ITUC-TC, underscored the importance of collaboration and raising awareness of OSH: "OSH is an important topic that requires joint efforts from the government, employers, and workers. Despite Thailand's extensive OSH regulations, awareness among stakeholders remains a key challenge."
Participants explored OSH legal and policy frameworks at both international and national levels, guided by the ILO expert Dr Yuka Ujita, Senior Specialist on Occupational Safety and Health, and Wichan Sombutpinyo, Director of Thailand's Occupational Safety and Health Standards Group of the OSH Division.
Dr Ujita emphasized the crucial role of trade unions in ensuring workers' participation in all stages of the OSH management system, which is a key to its effectiveness.
The training identified three priority areas for the capacity building of Thai trade unions: ensuring compliance with basic OSH requirements; improving the collection and use of occupational accident and disease data; and health promotion in the workplace, including non-communicable disease prevention.
"These target areas for capacity building underpin the immediate and long-term training strategy to ensure workers' participation in and contribution to the development and implementation of the OSH policy and programme at both national and workplace levels," said Dr Ujita.
The workshop was co-organized by the Promoting a safe and healthy working environment in Thailand and Cambodia project, funded by the Government of Japan, and the Strengthening Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work and Trade Readiness in Thailand project, funded by the Government of Canada.
Thailand's recent ratification of ILO Conventions, including the Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 1981 (No. 155) and the Protocol of 2002 to the Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 1981, signals a renewed national commitment to OSH reform.
Norikazu Takebe, Chief Technical Adviser and Overall Coordinator of the ILO/Japan Multi-bilateral programme, reaffirmed the organization's commitment: "The ILO will continue supporting Thailand to promote a safe and healthy working environment at all levels."
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